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This is Part 3 in our three-part series on building a live edge table. In this installment we’ll flatten the slab, apply finish, and install our legs. The legs we chose are steel hairpin legs, which really complement the design.

Flattening

We’re working with a maple burl, which means the grain is going in many different directions. Even if we had a planer wide enough to accept this piece, my preference is to use a surface sander. This ensures that we don’t tear out the grain. Additionally, the sander is plenty wide to handle our material. When using a surface sander it’s very important for the sand paper to be correctly installed. Be sure you understand how to wrap sand paper on a surface sander.

Loose bark

Remember that we want to let the natural “defects” in the live edge material shine through. Our burl has bark inclusions that were a little bit loose. In order to make certain that they didn’t fall out, we used thin CA glue (cyanoacrylate), to stabilize the bark.

Adding legs

There are many, many options when you’re shopping for components to go with your live edge table, or live edge mantel, or any other piece you make from live edge material. Turned legs, steel legs, beautiful corbels…nearly any specie and any style you could want. Be sure to shop these sources to find the perfect accent for your live edge project.

There aren’t many woodworking techniques that will draw more ooh’s and aah’s from your woodworking buddies than a captive ring turned on a spindle. George Vondriska demonstrates the mysterious technique in this clip. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.

George Vondriska provides tips on how to use a backyard saw mill to cut lumber from logs for your woodworking projects. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video. Saw mill provided by Logosol. For more information, visit www.logosol.us.

Most woodworkers have some airborne dust and particulates floating in their shop, and some of those particles can settle on a not-quite-dried finish. George Vondriska demonstrates a neat and inexpensive trick for protecting small woodworking projects from dust when finishing. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.

If you’ve ever tried to clamp two pieces together that are cut at less than a 90-degree angle, you know how difficult it is to keep the joint from sliding around before it dries. George Vondriska has a neat trick to resovle this clamping challenge using clamp blocks. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original